Lissamine Green 1% Eye Drops

How it works

It stains devitalised and degenerate epithelial cells and areas of the cornea and conjunctiva lacking an adequate protective mucin coating, highlighting ocular surface damage for examination.

Prescribing in practice

• It is a diagnostic agent for clinician-applied ocular surface examination, not a treatment, and should be instilled and interpreted by a trained eye care professional.
• It is generally well tolerated and causes less stinging than rose bengal, making it useful for ocular surface staining.
• Examine the stained ocular surface promptly after application as staining is assessed during slit-lamp evaluation.

Monitoring

No ongoing monitoring is required as it is used once at the point of clinical assessment of the ocular surface.

Counselling the patient

• Explain that a harmless coloured dye is being placed in the eye to check the surface during examination.
• Mild transient irritation may occur but settles quickly after the examination.

Evidence & guidelines

Lissamine green staining is a standard component of ocular surface assessment in dry eye disease evaluation in ophthalmic practice.